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Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute (AWRI) - Outreach

The W.G. Jackson on an aquatic science cruise

Freshwater Outreach Program

Connecting people in West Michigan with local waters through experiential learning

About the program

Outreach at AWRI

Vessel Education Program

Educational cruises on the W.G. Jackson and the D.J. Angus vessels have reached over 200,000 people since 1986.

AWRI vessel instructor Doug Haywick assists students with a plankton density test onboard the D.J. Angus

Land-based Programs

Landside Programs on AWRI's grounds and in the R.B. Annis Educational Foundation classroom can be customized for all ages.

A student and deckhand collect a sample of Spring Lake water during a cruise on the D.J. Angus.
Students conduct lab analyses during a cruise on the W.G. Jackson
Students simulate a rainstorm over a model of a watershed during an AWRI landside program.

Professional Learning for Educators

We offer professional development workshops in a variety of environmental education programs: 
Project WET, GLOBE, Project Learning Tree, Michigan Environmental Education Curriculum Support (MEECS) and more.

Michigan Project WET Logo

Check out our links to
Great Lakes education resources

AWRI coordinates Michigan Project WET

A student onboard the D.J. Angus research vessel conducts a test with a turbidity tube
The hands of a student are visible pouring chemicals into an Erlenmeyer flask
Students sort benthic macroinvertebrates gathered from the bottom of a lake
Page last modified April 8, 2026